Starting Tues, 6/7/11 - Get to know Steve Kline

[Scott Warren]

Surely if you're okay to be missing a club at Bandon it's your 60?!

Steve, though I have never met him, was most generous late last year to answer at great length a question I had about working with family, as I knew he works with his and I was weighing up an option to work with mine.

The kindness and generosity people on this DG show towards one another never ceases to amaze me and that was a prime example.

[Steve Kline]

Surely if you're okay to be missing a club at Bandon it's your 60?!

Steve, though I have never met him, was most generous late last year to answer at great length a question I had about working with family, as I knew he works with his and I was weighing up an option to work with mine.

The kindness and generosity people on this DG show towards one another never ceases to amaze me and that was a prime example.

Yeah...you can get around anywhere without a sixty. But, I would prefer to have in case of some deep bunkers - like on the road hole at Old Mac.

[Jason Topp]

Steve:

Thanks for participating.

What are your competitive aspirations?

Do you differentiate between a good match play vs. stroke play course?  If so, how?

Did you participate in that OGA tournament where the used a rolled back ball?  If so, tell us about the experience?  What is your view on rollback in general?

Is bomb and gouge a regular phenomena in the tournaments in which you compete?

Draw or fade?  How good are you at working it both ways?

Sunday mornings - church or golf?

 - Jason

[Steve Kline]

Steve:

Thanks for participating.

What are your competitive aspirations?

Do you differentiate between a good match play vs. stroke play course?  If so, how?

Did you participate in that OGA tournament where the used a rolled back ball?  If so, tell us about the experience?  What is your view on rollback in general?

Is bomb and gouge a regular phenomena in the tournaments in which you compete?

Draw or fade?  How good are you at working it both ways?

Sunday mornings - church or golf?

 - Jason

Competitive aspirations - To win some local tournaments (I've won one tournament outside of my club in my life) and do well in state and national events. In state events finish top 10 or better and in national events make the match play. When I played the Mid Am I really felt I could compete with the better players but I have little experience at that level. My chipping is much better this year than when I played the Mid Am but my ball striking is slightly worse (but improving) and my short putting is not good right now. The ultimate dream is to win the Mid Am so I could play in the Masters.

I don't really differentiate between a good stroke play or match play course. It really just comes to down to do I like playing the course or not.

I did not play in the OGA tournament with the rolled back ball. My general view of a rollback is it is not needed at the mid-am ranks. Anything that is done should apply to everyone though because many of us still try to qualify for the Open and other events that could be under different standards. I will say that I didn't notice any real distance gains, especially with my irons, when the ProV came out. Maybe a little with my driver but not much. It was hard to tell there because I added 20 pounds of muscle that year. However, this year I am hitting it further. I went to Titliest and got custom fitted for all of my clubs. MY irons are going further. The wedge about 5 yards, the 7 iron about 10 10 and the 5 iron almost 10-12. Getting properly fitted with the right shafts and new clubheads seems to have really made a difference. Even though my driver specs were already really good that last bit of tweaking seems to have made a difference their too. I can more easily draw the ball off the tee and that shot can go a lot further. However, I really started working out since last November and am much stronger too.

I don't think bomb and gouge is a big factor in mid-am ranks. At the US Mid Am I was basically the shorter hitter I saw but most guys were only a few yards further off the tee than me. I think craftiness and shot making are still a big part of the mid-am game. Especially since I can still beat a lot of guys who blow it by me.

My natural shot use to be a draw, when the ball would curve more on its own. Now it is pretty straight. But, I never hit a shot without trying to hit a draw or fade and controlling the trajectory. I think it helps me score better because I can eliminate trouble and it is FUN!. MY fade hasn't been working as well this year. It was my go to clutch shot in pressure situations the year I made the Mid Am, especially with the driver.

I almost never miss church. Only if I am out of town or the club championship because the last round is on Sunday.

[George Pazin]

Love to talk econ with you someday. Which architect is the Murray Rothbard of golf course design?

Any interesting stories from your college golf days? I think I remember you saying you went to Vandy, but that could be my faulty memory.

Have you made it across the pond for golf yet? If so, any surprises?

What sort of working out are you doing? Running? Weights? Bodyweight stuff?

[Steve Kline]

Love to talk econ with you someday. Which architect is the Murray Rothbard of golf course design?

Any interesting stories from your college golf days? I think I remember you saying you went to Vandy, but that could be my faulty memory.

Have you made it across the pond for golf yet? If so, any surprises?

What sort of working out are you doing? Running? Weights? Bodyweight stuff?

Well Rothbard was an inconoclast that had his own way of thinking and wasn't afraid to speak his mind or upset the status quo. I've never met Tom Doak but he would seem to fit that bill. Oh...and both appear to be pure genius.


I did play at Vandy but no really interesting stories from the college days. My coach was Mason Rudolph who many of you may remember. Mason was a country boy and we had one in my class too. His name was Dirk Daniel. I had never heard the name Dirk before. Dirk was from Knoxville and had the thickest Southern accent I had ever heard. So we are riding in the van to my first tournament and Dirk pulls at a tape he wants coach to play. As coach puts it in Dirk says, "This is a tape of my brother Cooter plain' some bluegrass. The song is called Diggin' Taters and Pickin' Maters." Coach loved it but the rest of the van was horrified. I did meet Cooter one time.

I've made it across the pond 4 times - three to Scotland/England andone to Ireland. My first trip I was a +2 handicap and struggled to break 80. That brand of golf was totally foreign to me but I lolved it right away. The second trip I knew what to expect and scored to my handicap shooting par at Troon and breaking par at Western Gailes.  I guess the biggest surprise is that firm and fast is anentirely different concept on real links courses. Also, it was hard to remember any holes on the first trip because the landscape was so foreign to me. I was used to seeing trees as reference points for holes. I've enjoyed the leser known courses as much as the open Rota courses. Three of my favorites that were just a blast to play were Crail, Cruden Bay, and Narin & Portnoo. Sure, there may be some bad or not so good holes on each but the fun factor was off the charts on those three. I never thought I would enjoy a course as short as Crail so much but it shows what wind and hard ground to do for fun golf.

In November I started following the Primal Blueprint - www.marksdailyapple.com. It is a low-carb diet but not necessarily Atkins. Also, I have been doing body weight exercises and sprinting in addition to always walking when I play.  The exercise is part of the Primal Blueprint plan. I have lost 40 lbs since  late last summer and have some real muscle definition. If I could lay off the ice cream I would be pretty ripped right now and be close to a six pack.

[Matthew Sander]

Steve,

Unfortunately, laying off the ice cream is impossible in the land of Graeter's.

I'm originally from Cincinnati, but grew up around 40 min. west in Batesville, IN. The club where I worked as a kid had Graeter's Ice Cream on hand in the kitchen. On hot summer nights when we were working late cleaning clubs and shining shoes, the head chef would occasionally come downstairs with a fifth of a tub or so of the Black Raspberry Chip for us to polish off. Wow, that stuff was/is amazing...

I'd like to piggy-back a little bit on Wade's question regarding tournament players and their relationship with architecture. It seems from your answer that during play you absolutely take in the architecture in order to make decisions to better your score. However, would it be fair to say that you aren't out there appreciating, or admiring the course? How do you observe a course differently when playing a casual round as opposed to a tournament round? Is it tough to play a tournament round on a difficult set up and say, "Wow, I really love this course and would like to head back to the first tee"? I'd love to hear some examples of courses you really enjoyed while playing a difficult competitive event...

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Steve,

Outside of the USGA events, what have been your most enjoyable tournament experiences and what makes those events stand out for you?

[Steve Kline]

Steve,

Unfortunately, laying off the ice cream is impossible in the land of Graeter's.

I'm originally from Cincinnati, but grew up around 40 min. west in Batesville, IN. The club where I worked as a kid had Graeter's Ice Cream on hand in the kitchen. On hot summer nights when we were working late cleaning clubs and shining shoes, the head chef would occasionally come downstairs with a fifth of a tub or so of the Black Raspberry Chip for us to polish off. Wow, that stuff was/is amazing...

I'd like to piggy-back a little bit on Wade's question regarding tournament players and their relationship with architecture. It seems from your answer that during play you absolutely take in the architecture in order to make decisions to better your score. However, would it be fair to say that you aren't out there appreciating, or admiring the course? How do you observe a course differently when playing a casual round as opposed to a tournament round? Is it tough to play a tournament round on a difficult set up and say, "Wow, I really love this course and would like to head back to the first tee"? I'd love to hear some examples of courses you really enjoyed while playing a difficult competitive event...

Black raspberry chip is the best ice cream ever!!! Lately I have been succumbing to any Ben & Jerry's pint size flavor, which is actually one serving no matter what the container says.

I am definitely not out there appreciating a course during a tournament play. I am too focused on the task at hand for that. That comes in practice rounds. Those are also the times when most of the strategic analysis for the tournament is done. Making those decisions in the heat of the moment is hard but that is what separates good and great players.

In a tournament round I am learning to play more conservatively to avoid the big number and picking my spots to attack. In a fun round I will go for a lot of stuff just because it is fun.

Usually after a tournament round your brain is so mentally tired that it is hard to play again. I remember just wanting to nap after a lot of tournament rounds. But I am better at focusing when needed and distracting myself between shots.

I have found NCR to be a difficult course. But I feel my game is better suited to courses where guys don't go really low. So I like hard courses. It is hard to come up with a specific example at the moment. I try to enjoy all of them instead of getting frustrated by a bad bounce or perceived bad hole.

[Matthew Sander]

Thanks Steve, I've always been amazed at how mentally organized and tough the high level competitive players are. I'm not sure I can fathom the mental discipline (as it relates to golf) that is necessary to be competitive, let alone excel.

I've got another question for you if you don't mind. It has been discussed on this board that one sure fire way to make a course difficult for elite players is to have shallow greens placed at an angle to the line of play with trouble lurking short and long. Such an approach requires accuracy in terms of distance control and line. Do you agree? In your opinion, what other architectural characteristics (not maintenance practices such as lush rough and extreme green speeds) increase the difficulty for elite players?  

[Steve Kline]

Steve,

Outside of the USGA events, what have been your most enjoyable tournament experiences and what makes those events stand out for you?

Two stand out and they both involve my dad.

The first was the Cincinnati Met just after my freshman year of college. I had just shot my first under par round in a tournament a few weeks earlier in a college tournament. My dad was caddying for me in the first round of the Met qualifying. I birdied the first three holes. On the 4th tee I was laying up with a one iron when my dad said it looks like you don't want to go right. Guess where I hit it? I told him not to say anything like that again. But I one putted holes 4-6 for par. I made another birdie for a 32 on my front nine. Then started the back by dropping a bomb for birdie. I was 7 under through 14 holes with no bogeys and heard some one near me say something about a course record. My dad went over and told the person to be quiet. On the 16th and 17th holes I hit it to 10 feet and had good birdie putts but lagged them because I was afraid of making a bogey. On 18 I had a 3 footer for par and my knees were shaking. Made it to go bogey free and shoot a course record 7 under. Really cool to have my dad on the bag for that.

The second was the fall of 2009 and my dad and I were playing in the Pinehurst member-guest. We were in the elad after two days. My dad doesn't play much competitive golf so he was very nervous the third day which was best ball on #2. On the first four holes he did not hit a shot that got off the ground but he made for pars with strokes on two of the holes. On 18 I had a three footer straight up the hill that I thought would be important but wasn't sure. I missed it without even touching the hole. WE go over to the scoreboard and that putt cost us the outright win. We were now in a playoff that was going to start in about 45 minutes. My dad was really nervous. I knew because he kept telling me so on the range. I literally told him, "Pretend you are a turtle. Do everything the pace that a turtle would. Hit one ball and walk away. Hit another ball and walk away. Mover slow like a turtle." As we were going to the first tee he said, "You better birdie the first hole of the playoff because you screwed up 18 and I can't take much more of this." I piped it down the middle and had 115 left. My dad had already hit in the left bunker with the pin front right. I hit to about 10 feet but it was breaking right and down hill. We get to the green and dad's ball is near the left lip. He is not a good bunker player so I was expecting much but my dad hit a tremendous shot to about 3 feet. He putted his first and made it for pour. Our competitor was in for par and I made my putt to birdie the first playoff hole and when the tourney. We rode back to my dad's house in his golf cart and my mom was sitting on the porch steps waiting for us to get back. She said you've been gone a long time did you win. I three my arms in the air. My mom said, "Your dad just looks like he's happy that is over."  And my dad got his coveted Putter Boy trophy.

Almost all of my great golf memories involve my dad. He's now blind with only about 10% of his vision. But he played with me every day last week in Pinehurst. He even shot a 93 one day. One the second day he told me I was standing too close to the ball. I'm thinking the guy is blind how does he know what I'm doing. Sure enough, I backed away and started striping it. He said I've seen your swing for 30 years and I may not see well but I can still tell what your doing. 

[Doug Wright]

Steve,

Outside of the USGA events, what have been your most enjoyable tournament experiences and what makes those events stand out for you?

Two stand out and they both involve my dad.

The first was the Cincinnati Met just after my freshman year of college. I had just shot my first under par round in a tournament a few weeks earlier in a college tournament. My dad was caddying for me in the first round of the Met qualifying. I birdied the first three holes. On the 4th tee I was laying up with a one iron when my dad said it looks like you don't want to go right. Guess where I hit it? I told him not to say anything like that again. But I one putted holes 4-6 for par. I made another birdie for a 32 on my front nine. Then started the back by dropping a bomb for birdie. I was 7 under through 14 holes with no bogeys and heard some one near me say something about a course record. My dad went over and told the person to be quiet. On the 16th and 17th holes I hit it to 10 feet and had good birdie putts but lagged them because I was afraid of making a bogey. On 18 I had a 3 footer for par and my knees were shaking. Made it to go bogey free and shoot a course record 7 under. Really cool to have my dad on the bag for that.

The second was the fall of 2009 and my dad and I were playing in the Pinehurst member-guest. We were in the elad after two days. My dad doesn't play much competitive golf so he was very nervous the third day which was best ball on #2. On the first four holes he did not hit a shot that got off the ground but he made for pars with strokes on two of the holes. On 18 I had a three footer straight up the hill that I thought would be important but wasn't sure. I missed it without even touching the hole. WE go over to the scoreboard and that putt cost us the outright win. We were now in a playoff that was going to start in about 45 minutes. My dad was really nervous. I knew because he kept telling me so on the range. I literally told him, "Pretend you are a turtle. Do everything the pace that a turtle would. Hit one ball and walk away. Hit another ball and walk away. Mover slow like a turtle." As we were going to the first tee he said, "You better birdie the first hole of the playoff because you screwed up 18 and I can't take much more of this." I piped it down the middle and had 115 left. My dad had already hit in the left bunker with the pin front right. I hit to about 10 feet but it was breaking right and down hill. We get to the green and dad's ball is near the left lip. He is not a good bunker player so I was expecting much but my dad hit a tremendous shot to about 3 feet. He putted his first and made it for pour. Our competitor was in for par and I made my putt to birdie the first playoff hole and when the tourney. We rode back to my dad's house in his golf cart and my mom was sitting on the porch steps waiting for us to get back. She said you've been gone a long time did you win. I three my arms in the air. My mom said, "Your dad just looks like he's happy that is over."  And my dad got his coveted Putter Boy trophy.

Almost all of my great golf memories involve my dad. He's now blind with only about 10% of his vision. But he played with me every day last week in Pinehurst. He even shot a 93 one day. One the second day he told me I was standing too close to the ball. I'm thinking the guy is blind how does he know what I'm doing. Sure enough, I backed away and started striping it. He said I've seen your swing for 30 years and I may not see well but I can still tell what your doing. 

Awesome stories Steve. Thanks.

[JLahrman]

As we were going to the first tee he said, "You better birdie the first hole of the playoff because you screwed up 18 and I can't take much more of this."

Now that's funny.  Any partner besides a father would initiate a shoving match with a comment like this.

[George Pazin]

Steve,

Outside of the USGA events, what have been your most enjoyable tournament experiences and what makes those events stand out for you?

Two stand out and they both involve my dad.

The first was the Cincinnati Met just after my freshman year of college. I had just shot my first under par round in a tournament a few weeks earlier in a college tournament. My dad was caddying for me in the first round of the Met qualifying. I birdied the first three holes. On the 4th tee I was laying up with a one iron when my dad said it looks like you don't want to go right. Guess where I hit it? I told him not to say anything like that again. But I one putted holes 4-6 for par. I made another birdie for a 32 on my front nine. Then started the back by dropping a bomb for birdie. I was 7 under through 14 holes with no bogeys and heard some one near me say something about a course record. My dad went over and told the person to be quiet. On the 16th and 17th holes I hit it to 10 feet and had good birdie putts but lagged them because I was afraid of making a bogey. On 18 I had a 3 footer for par and my knees were shaking. Made it to go bogey free and shoot a course record 7 under. Really cool to have my dad on the bag for that.

The second was the fall of 2009 and my dad and I were playing in the Pinehurst member-guest. We were in the elad after two days. My dad doesn't play much competitive golf so he was very nervous the third day which was best ball on #2. On the first four holes he did not hit a shot that got off the ground but he made for pars with strokes on two of the holes. On 18 I had a three footer straight up the hill that I thought would be important but wasn't sure. I missed it without even touching the hole. WE go over to the scoreboard and that putt cost us the outright win. We were now in a playoff that was going to start in about 45 minutes. My dad was really nervous. I knew because he kept telling me so on the range. I literally told him, "Pretend you are a turtle. Do everything the pace that a turtle would. Hit one ball and walk away. Hit another ball and walk away. Mover slow like a turtle." As we were going to the first tee he said, "You better birdie the first hole of the playoff because you screwed up 18 and I can't take much more of this." I piped it down the middle and had 115 left. My dad had already hit in the left bunker with the pin front right. I hit to about 10 feet but it was breaking right and down hill. We get to the green and dad's ball is near the left lip. He is not a good bunker player so I was expecting much but my dad hit a tremendous shot to about 3 feet. He putted his first and made it for pour. Our competitor was in for par and I made my putt to birdie the first playoff hole and when the tourney. We rode back to my dad's house in his golf cart and my mom was sitting on the porch steps waiting for us to get back. She said you've been gone a long time did you win. I three my arms in the air. My mom said, "Your dad just looks like he's happy that is over."  And my dad got his coveted Putter Boy trophy.

Almost all of my great golf memories involve my dad. He's now blind with only about 10% of his vision. But he played with me every day last week in Pinehurst. He even shot a 93 one day. One the second day he told me I was standing too close to the ball. I'm thinking the guy is blind how does he know what I'm doing. Sure enough, I backed away and started striping it. He said I've seen your swing for 30 years and I may not see well but I can still tell what your doing. 

Doug's right (he usually is), these are fantastic stories, two of the best I've seen on here.

[Steve Kline]

I've got another question for you if you don't mind. It has been discussed on this board that one sure fire way to make a course difficult for elite players is to have shallow greens placed at an angle to the line of play with trouble lurking short and long. Such an approach requires accuracy in terms of distance control and line. Do you agree? In your opinion, what other architectural characteristics (not maintenance practices such as lush rough and extreme green speeds) increase the difficulty for elite players?  

No doubt shallow greens set on an angle are tough shots. Just look at how hard the 14th at Muirfield Village is and those guys are coming in with wedges. I personally find reverse camber shots extremely difficult. My eye always wants to work the ball with the lay of the land not against it. Also, I find hazards (bunkers, short grass with slope, severe pitch in the green, etc.) at the back of a green difficult for back pin placements. But, I guess that is no different than short siding yourself anywhere else on a green. "Random" bounces really seem to do it to good players too. Most of them hate unpredictability because it ruins their score. So, I would say lots of micro-undulations are good. I think lots of short grass around a green where your chip shot has to go up and over is very difficult. The good player has a hard time getting that up and down and the bogey golfer doesn't get it up and down anyway but can still get down in three.

[Steve Kline]

As we were going to the first tee he said, "You better birdie the first hole of the playoff because you screwed up 18 and I can't take much more of this."

Now that's funny.  Any partner besides a father would initiate a shoving match with a comment like this.

I immediately started laughing. He was so nervous and couldn't take it. Yet I thought the playoff and all the nerves were the best part of the weekend. That's what competitors live for. I really like reading stories about the Tour pros and their nerves. They are so good it's hard for me to imagine they get that nervous but they are human too.

[Bill Brightly]

Great stories about your Dad! My Dad was just a fair player but an incredible putter. He thought EVERY putt inside of 30 feet was going in. One time he rolled a 30 footer over the lip and a player said "great putt" and he replied, "great putts go in." Now whenever someone says "great putt" after I miss I use that line and wink at Dad.

[Steve Kline]

Great stories about your Dad! My Dad was just a fair player but an incredible putter. He thought EVERY putt inside of 30 feet was going in. One time he rolled a 30 footer over the lip and a player said "great putt" and he replied, "great putts go in." Now whenever someone says "great putt" after I miss I use that line and wink at Dad.

That is classic.

[Shane Wright]

Steve,

Have really enjoyed reading these questions and your responses.

I have some somewhat similar golfing aspirations although family/work makes it a little tough. 

Can you elaborate a little on your practice schedule and how you keep your game sharp for the amateur tourneys?

Thanks,

Shane

[John Kavanaugh]

Steve:

Thanks for participating.

What are your competitive aspirations?

Do you differentiate between a good match play vs. stroke play course?  If so, how?

Did you participate in that OGA tournament where the used a rolled back ball?  If so, tell us about the experience?  What is your view on rollback in general?

Is bomb and gouge a regular phenomena in the tournaments in which you compete?

Draw or fade?  How good are you at working it both ways?

Sunday mornings - church or golf?

 - Jason

Competitive aspirations - To win some local tournaments (I've won one tournament outside of my club in my life) and do well in state and national events. In state events finish top 10 or better and in national events make the match play. When I played the Mid Am I really felt I could compete with the better players but I have little experience at that level. My chipping is much better this year than when I played the Mid Am but my ball striking is slightly worse (but improving) and my short putting is not good right now. The ultimate dream is to win the Mid Am so I could play in the Masters.

I don't really differentiate between a good stroke play or match play course. It really just comes to down to do I like playing the course or not.

I did not play in the OGA tournament with the rolled back ball. My general view of a rollback is it is not needed at the mid-am ranks. Anything that is done should apply to everyone though because many of us still try to qualify for the Open and other events that could be under different standards. I will say that I didn't notice any real distance gains, especially with my irons, when the ProV came out. Maybe a little with my driver but not much. It was hard to tell there because I added 20 pounds of muscle that year. However, this year I am hitting it further. I went to Titliest and got custom fitted for all of my clubs. MY irons are going further. The wedge about 5 yards, the 7 iron about 10 10 and the 5 iron almost 10-12. Getting properly fitted with the right shafts and new clubheads seems to have really made a difference. Even though my driver specs were already really good that last bit of tweaking seems to have made a difference their too. I can more easily draw the ball off the tee and that shot can go a lot further. However, I really started working out since last November and am much stronger too.

I don't think bomb and gouge is a big factor in mid-am ranks. At the US Mid Am I was basically the shorter hitter I saw but most guys were only a few yards further off the tee than me. I think craftiness and shot making are still a big part of the mid-am game. Especially since I can still beat a lot of guys who blow it by me.

My natural shot use to be a draw, when the ball would curve more on its own. Now it is pretty straight. But, I never hit a shot without trying to hit a draw or fade and controlling the trajectory. I think it helps me score better because I can eliminate trouble and it is FUN!. MY fade hasn't been working as well this year. It was my go to clutch shot in pressure situations the year I made the Mid Am, especially with the driver.

I almost never miss church. Only if I am out of town or the club championship because the last round is on Sunday.

Steve,

Have you considered converting to Catholicism so you can play golf anytime, anywhere you choose without missing church?  If not, how can something so vain as trying to win a local club championship warrant missing services?  What besides vanity motivates someone to attempt to win a local tournament they have won many times before.  Note: I struggle with this issue myself as I leave my family and spiritual obligations behind several times each year.

[Steve Kline]

Steve,

Have really enjoyed reading these questions and your responses.

I have some somewhat similar golfing aspirations although family/work makes it a little tough. 

Can you elaborate a little on your practice schedule and how you keep your game sharp for the amateur tourneys?

Thanks,

Shane

I do not practice very much. I try to play about twice a week. If I am really struggling in a certain area I might actually try to practie that part of my game. But more often than not practicing my long game just seems to make things worse, especially if I do not have a set of eyes watching me. This year I have been going to my club at lunch (it is just five minutes away from my office) most days to practice putting and chipping. This has dramatically improved my chipping this year. To practice my chipping I just drop five or six balls on the fairway around the green. I pick one club ( a different one each day) and hit different chips for 10-15 minutes. I only hit chips off the fairway because it requires more skill to make good contact. As I chip I have one thought - watch the ball. It is amazing how easy it is for me to not watch the ball and skull or chunk chips. If I am making the solid contact on my chips I just rely on feel for everything else. The rest of the lunch hour I practice putting. Typically I just practice 3 and 4 footers. I use six to eights balls and pick a straight putt. I have to make 50 in a row before I can leave. This allows me to see the ball go in the hole a lot and has results in some pressure on these short putts because you do not want to make 45 in a row and miss and have to start over. Typically when I do this putting drill I feel that I will make everything afterwards. But this year it is not helping. I am missing an amazing amount of short putts, making generally poor contact with my putts and missing most of them to the right. I think I need a set of eyes to help me.

[Steve Kline]

Steve:

Thanks for participating.

What are your competitive aspirations?

Do you differentiate between a good match play vs. stroke play course?  If so, how?

Did you participate in that OGA tournament where the used a rolled back ball?  If so, tell us about the experience?  What is your view on rollback in general?

Is bomb and gouge a regular phenomena in the tournaments in which you compete?

Draw or fade?  How good are you at working it both ways?

Sunday mornings - church or golf?

 - Jason

Competitive aspirations - To win some local tournaments (I've won one tournament outside of my club in my life) and do well in state and national events. In state events finish top 10 or better and in national events make the match play. When I played the Mid Am I really felt I could compete with the better players but I have little experience at that level. My chipping is much better this year than when I played the Mid Am but my ball striking is slightly worse (but improving) and my short putting is not good right now. The ultimate dream is to win the Mid Am so I could play in the Masters.

I don't really differentiate between a good stroke play or match play course. It really just comes to down to do I like playing the course or not.

I did not play in the OGA tournament with the rolled back ball. My general view of a rollback is it is not needed at the mid-am ranks. Anything that is done should apply to everyone though because many of us still try to qualify for the Open and other events that could be under different standards. I will say that I didn't notice any real distance gains, especially with my irons, when the ProV came out. Maybe a little with my driver but not much. It was hard to tell there because I added 20 pounds of muscle that year. However, this year I am hitting it further. I went to Titliest and got custom fitted for all of my clubs. MY irons are going further. The wedge about 5 yards, the 7 iron about 10 10 and the 5 iron almost 10-12. Getting properly fitted with the right shafts and new clubheads seems to have really made a difference. Even though my driver specs were already really good that last bit of tweaking seems to have made a difference their too. I can more easily draw the ball off the tee and that shot can go a lot further. However, I really started working out since last November and am much stronger too.

I don't think bomb and gouge is a big factor in mid-am ranks. At the US Mid Am I was basically the shorter hitter I saw but most guys were only a few yards further off the tee than me. I think craftiness and shot making are still a big part of the mid-am game. Especially since I can still beat a lot of guys who blow it by me.

My natural shot use to be a draw, when the ball would curve more on its own. Now it is pretty straight. But, I never hit a shot without trying to hit a draw or fade and controlling the trajectory. I think it helps me score better because I can eliminate trouble and it is FUN!. MY fade hasn't been working as well this year. It was my go to clutch shot in pressure situations the year I made the Mid Am, especially with the driver.

I almost never miss church. Only if I am out of town or the club championship because the last round is on Sunday.

Steve,

Have you considered converting to Catholicism so you can play golf anytime, anywhere you choose without missing church?  If not, how can something so vain as trying to win a local club championship warrant missing services?  What besides vanity motivates someone to attempt to win a local tournament they have won many times before.  Note: I struggle with this issue myself as I leave my family and spiritual obligations behind several times each year.

I have not considered switching to Catholicism. I went to a Cathiolic high school but only because they had a good golf team. I was not a "religious" person at the time.

I do not worry about missing the occasional service. I missed this Sunday because I was traveling to Bandon Dunes. i have missed other Sundays traveling for work and vacation. And I miss church for my club championship. Why is that vanity? I do not approach my faith from a legalistic perspective. My faith is about a relationshio with a Christ. The second it becomes legalistic - in that I must always do something - that something loses its value and becomes a hindrance to my relationship with Christ. The something becomes more important than Christ and loving Him. While the Bible says not to forsake the gathering of the saints it does not say that we are sinning by missing church. Clearly, I am not forsaking the gathering because I am there almost every Sunday.

I do not understand what is vain about trying to win my club championship multiple times? It does not define me as a personeven though it is a part of who I am. Competitive golf is something I enjoy doing. And it has afforded me an opportunity to witness my faith to people in subtle ways. I try to never do it overtly because I did not like that when I was a Christian and I don't think it is effective.

[Zack Molnar]

Steve,

Im a fellow Cincinnatian who also went to Vandy. What are you favorite courses around Nash(I know its tough considering the extreme dearth of good, even decent golf around there). Favorite course in Tennessee?

Also, I saw you went to a catholic hs in Cincy. May I ask which one(Im a bomber, so we could have some trouble on our hands if we ever meet at a GCA outing)

Finally, which is your favorite skyline location?

Thanks for participating!

-Zack

[Steve Kline]

Steve,

Im a fellow Cincinnatian who also went to Vandy. What are you favorite courses around Nash(I know its tough considering the extreme dearth of good, even decent golf around there). Favorite course in Tennessee?

Also, I saw you went to a catholic hs in Cincy. May I ask which one(Im a bomber, so we could have some trouble on our hands if we ever meet at a GCA outing)

Finally, which is your favorite skyline location?

Thanks for participating!

-Zack

Fellow Bomber here!!! Graduated in 1993. I remember liking Belle Meade although we didn't get to play it much. What is now the Legends club was enjoyable. My favorite course in Nashville was also west of the city in Kingston I think. It was a really private club where some big country stars and Michael Jordan were members. We played it about five times. It was so quiet and peaceful there you could hear the running brook several holes away.

I live in Eastgate so when I go to Skyline it is that one usually. In high school we always went to the one at Montgomery and 275 because the a couple of my friends had girlfriends that worked there.

[Will Lozier]

Steve,

From Springfield a little further north...would agree that Skyline is the only real Cincy style 5-way and that Black Raspberry Chip is the finest ice cream on Earth.  I noticed that you mentioned NCR as a quality choice in Dayton but didn't hear anything about Moraine which is next door?!  Have you not played it?  Also, I am just wondering if you have ever gotten up to Springfield to play Springfield CC, an old Ross design that where the greens have been reclaimed and some tree removal has occurred (LOTS more needs to be done).  It is a real treat, so much so that they have earned US Open sectional qualifiers the last two years - it is where Erik Compton earned his Pebble spot.  I grew up lifeguarding there and have played probably 40-50 rounds - truly a course where one would enjoy being constrained to for life.  Have only had a chance to walk Camargo while my brother and father have played it numerous times and rave about it (as does Pete D).  Sorry for spotting this thread just recently.